[blindlaw] CLE agenda language that is negative toward the blind

Tue Sep 26 09:15:32 CDT 2006

Ashley,

I think that what you've just said is an excellent example of letting 
feelings interfere in such matters.  Regardless how the statement makes you 
feel, or what your original knee-jerk reaction to it is, there is no reason 
for you to not attend the seminar on those grounds alone.  Perhaps attending 
the seminar, and then taking a moment to mention to someone how such a title 
makes you feel as a blind person (or as one who assists the blind). Would be 
a be a more helpful response.

Everett

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Ashley, Kathy J" <Kathy.Ashley at fssa.in.gov>
To: "NFBnet Blind Law Mailing List" <blindlaw at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Tuesday, September 26, 2006 10:45 AM
Subject: Re: [blindlaw] CLE agenda language that is negative toward the 
blind

>I am not saying that we should be guarded in our speech and watch
> everything we say.  Lordy, I am probably the least politically correct
> person around, but when a statement like this is presented as an agenda
> topic, I do believe that more thought should have been given to the
> title.  I don't know what CLE stands for, but I probably would have not
> attended that particular session based on the title alone.
>
> Kathy Ashley, MS, CRC
> Program Director for Blind & VI Services
> Vocational Rehabilitation Services
> 1-800-545-7763
> 317-232-1352
> Fax: 317-232-6478
>
> PLEASE NOTE: Information contained in this email and/or attachment may
> contain protected health, legally privileged, or otherwise confidential
> information intended only for the use of the individual(s) named above.
> If you, the reader of this message, are not the intended recipient, you
> are hereby notified that you may not further disseminate, distribute,
> disclose, copy or forward this message or any of the content herein. If
> you have received this email in error, please notify the sender
> immediately and delete the original.
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: blindlaw-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindlaw-bounces at nfbnet.org]
> On Behalf Of Everett Zufelt
> Sent: Tuesday, September 26, 2006 8:58 AM
> To: NFBnet Blind Law Mailing List
> Subject: Re: [blindlaw] CLE agenda language that is negative toward the
> blind
>
>
> I am 26-years old, and have only been blind for 2 years, so I do not
> understand what a life of blindness may be like.  There have been a
> number
> of struggles that I have had to go through in the past years, to deal
> with
> the total loss of sight.  Nevertheless, statements like the one in
> discussion "I would rather be blind..." really do not offend me at all.
> On
> a practicle level, "rather be blind then see you walk away" makes the
> most
> sense of any disability, it carries a greater meaning to non-disabled
> persons than "rather be deaf than hear you walk away" or "rather be
> paralyzed than try to chase you while you walk away".
>
> It is understandable that some people are hurt by this statement.
> Having to
> struggle everyday to "keep up with the Jones'" can be a very tiring and
> emotionally draining experience.  Language, however, is a method of
> communicating meaning.  Could the author of the agenda / event have
> chosen a
> better wording, likely.  Did the phrasing that he / she chose
> communicate a
> meaningful message, almost definitely.
>
> I think that what is important in this situation, or any situation where
> one
> becomes hurt and offended at what another has said regarding a sensative
>
> area of their life, is to realize that people make mistakes, and do not
> always think through what they are saying.  For us all to be guarded in
> our
> speech all of the time would be overwhelming.  It is necessary,
> therefore,
> that things will be said that cause us to feel pain from time to time.
> Like
> it or not, the offence that is felt from these circumstances is because
> of
> pain, not a rational disposition against the content of the message.  I
> think that as members of any minority group we need to do our best to
> take
> things like this in stride, to recognize our emotions, and when
> appropriate
> (such as this forum) to discuss our feelings in a constructive way.
>
> Everett
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Ashley, Kathy J" <Kathy.Ashley at fssa.in.gov>
> To: "NFBnet Blind Law Mailing List" <blindlaw at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Tuesday, September 26, 2006 8:46 AM
> Subject: Re: [blindlaw] CLE agenda language that is negative toward the
> blind
>
>
>> I'm not an attorney, I do not play one on TV, nor did I stay all night
>> at a Holiday Inn Express, but I feel that this language is very
>> offensive and only under heavy sedation could I even put a positive
> spin
>> on the wording.  Why not say:  I would rather be in a wheel chair than
>> see you walk away from me?  Or I would rather go deaf than to see you
>> walk away from me.  It is still demeaning and ugly.
>>
>> Kathy Ashley, MS, CRC
>> Program Director for Blind & VI Services
>> Vocational Rehabilitation Services
>> 1-800-545-7763
>> 317-232-1352
>> Fax: 317-232-6478
>>
>> PLEASE NOTE: Information contained in this email and/or attachment may
>> contain protected health, legally privileged, or otherwise
> confidential
>> information intended only for the use of the individual(s) named
> above.
>> If you, the reader of this message, are not the intended recipient,
> you
>> are hereby notified that you may not further disseminate, distribute,
>> disclose, copy or forward this message or any of the content herein.
> If
>> you have received this email in error, please notify the sender
>> immediately and delete the original.
>>
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: blindlaw-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindlaw-bounces at nfbnet.org]
>> On Behalf Of Noel Nightingale
>> Sent: Monday, September 25, 2006 4:11 PM
>> To: blindlaw at nfbnet.org
>> Subject: [blindlaw] CLE agenda language that is negative toward the
>> blind
>>
>>
>> Blind law listers:
>>
>> I just ran across a family law CLE agenda for my local county bar
>> association that contains t following agenda topic:
>>
>> 2:15     I'd Rather Go Blind Than See You Walk Away From Me:  Stories
>> from the Relocation Trenches
>>
>> Panel discussion of recent problems in interpretation and enforcement
> of
>> the Relocation Act
>>
>> Before I knee jerk react against this language, I'd like to hear what
>> you all think about the agenda item title stating that the presenters
>> would rather go blind than have a custodial parent relocate.  Perhaps
> it
>> can be construed as a positive statement about being blind.  What do
> you
>> think?
>>
>> Noel
>>
>>
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